The Cross of Merit (Polish: Krzyż Zasługi) is a Polish civil state decoration established on 23 June 1923 to acknowledge outstanding service to the state.[1]
| Cross of Merit Krzyż Zasługi | |
|---|---|
 Current version of the Gold Cross of Merit | |
| Type | Medal awarded in three grades: Gold, Silver, and Bronze |
| Awarded for | Exemplary and beyond standard expectations public service or humanitarian work |
| Country |  Poland |
| Presented by | the President of Poland |
| Clasps | denotes subsequent award |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Established | 23 June 1923 |
| First award | 11 November 1923 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Cross of Merit with Swords |
| Next (lower) | Military Cross of Merit with Swords, Air Force Cross of Merit with Swords, Navy Cross of Merit with Swords |
History
editAt the time of its establishment it was recognised as Poland's highest civilian distinction conferred upon individuals who demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to the nation and society beyond standard expectations. Recipients may be awarded the distinction up to twice in each grade.[2]
Gold Cross of Merit issued by the People's Republic
Silver Cross of Merit issued by the People's Republic
_(People's_Republic_Issue).jpg)
_(People's_Republic_Issue).jpg)
The Order
editThe Order has three grades:[3]
Gold Cross of Merit
Silver Cross of Merit
Bronze Cross of Merit
Recipients
editGold Cross of Merit
edit| Name | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Balkan Devlen | June 2025 | for outstanding merits in promoting Polish culture, and for activity within the Polish diaspora[4] |
| Przemysław Krych | July 2024 | for exemplary public and charity service, Poland[5] |
| Edyta Piecha [Edita Piekha] | 2012 | Soviet and Russian singer of Polish origin. |
| Robert Czernkowski | April 2023 | for service to the Polish community in Australia[6] |
| Edward Karpinski | January 2023 | For exemplary public service in the Polish community in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Ewa Hojna | 13 May 2022 | Director of Polish School Cultural Association (ACEP), Spain |
| Jan-Krzysztof Duda | 2021 | chess grandmaster[7] |
| Rick Sahar | 2020 | For building good relations through shared events within the Polish-Jewish communities in Wellington, New Zealand |
| Helena Kmieć | 2017 | for merits in charitable and social activities and her commitment to people in need of help |
| Wanda Paulina Gluszek | 2016 | political activist, poet; Chicago, Illinois |
| Michał Korwin-Szymanowski, also known as Michel Korwin | 2015 | Montréal, Canada |
| John P. Lynch | 3 November 2014 | CEO and founder of Lynka[8] |
| Philippe Blain | 27 October 2014 | coach of Poland men's national volleyball team – World Champions 2014 |
| Fabian Drzyzga | 27 October 2014 | volleyball player, World Champion 2014 |
| Mateusz Mika | 27 October 2014 | volleyball player, World Champion 2014 |
| Karol Kłos | 27 October 2014 | volleyball player, World Champion 2014 |
| Michał Kwiatkowski | 2014 | Polish road cyclist |
| Andrzej Wrona | 27 October 2014 | volleyball player, World Champion 2014 |
| Paweł Zatorski | 27 October 2014 | volleyball player, World Champion 2014 |
| Joanna Zawadzka | 2 May 2014 | community activist living in Scotland, director of Polish Cultural Festival Association |
| Aleksandra Ziółkowska-Boehm | 20 June 2014 | U.S.-based writer and academic |
| Katarzyna Maria Dziewanowska | 26 September 2013 | scientific research, University of Idaho |
| Elwira Grossman | August 2013 | Scotland |
| John Dodunski | March 2013 | New Zealand |
| Robert Dodunski | March 2013 | New Zealand |
| Bogdan Labecki | 2013 | [9] |
| Margaret Scannell née Dodunski | March 2013 | New Zealand |
| Agnieszka Radwańska | 2013 | tennis player[10] |
| Michal Kuleczka | 2013 | [11] |
| Máté Szabó | 10 December 2012 | The Ambassador of Poland to Hungary, Roman Kowalski presented the award to recognize Máté Szabó 's merits in strengthening the protection of human rights as Ombudsman and for his work developing Polish-Hungarian relations.[12] |
| Thomas Gabriel Grasza Esq | 11 November 2011 | postage stamp and coin designer and noted Canadian-Polish philatelist of four decades |
| Izabella Zielińska | 2011 | Polish pianist |
| Tomasz Miśkiewicz | 2011 | Silver Cross of Merit 2006, mufti, for work with the immigrant and native Islamic Youth, Gold Cross of Merit 2011, for work with the Muslim minorities, and for interfaith dialogue |
| Bronisław Oczkowski | 14 December 2010 | Melbourne, Australia[13] |
| Captain Stefan-Joseph Camilleri | 23 January 2009 | Warsaw, for distinguished and outstanding service to Poland and its people |
| Geertjan Lassche | 2007 | Dutch reporter and documentary film maker |
| Maciej Klich | 2005 | Polish historian, graphic artist, and a former anti-communist Polish independence diaspora activist |
| Małgorzata Kalinowska-Iszkowska | 2005 | Polish computer scientist[14] |
| Agata Mroz-Olszewska | 2005 | volleyball player, double European champion team member, 2003 and 2005 |
| Adam Skorek | 2004 | |
| Ryszard Antoni Kuśmierczyk | August 2002 | Engineer and community leader based ub Windsor, Ontario, Canada |
| Alojzy Nowak | 2002 | [15] |
| Jerzy Zralski | 2000 | II WW veteran and writer.[9] |
| Jerzy Łucki | August 1995 | Toronto, Canada |
| Captain Raymond Delver Smith Carrington J.P. | 1990 | for distinguished and outstanding service to Poland and its people |
| Henri Strzelecki | 1990 | co-founder of Henri Lloyd.[citation needed] |
| Jan Bujak | July 1984 | Corporate owner |
| Stanisław Nosal | 1979 | Polish Colonel of the 5th Rocket Artillery Battalion in Modlin Fortress, Poland. |
| Michael Biegler | German head coach of the Poland national handball team | |
| Ryszard Jurkowski | 1977 (Silver) and 1984 (Gold) | Silver and Gold Cross of Merit, Polish architect |
| Zbigniew Janowicz | Gold Cross of Merit, polish professor[16] | |
| Marian Machowski | Polish footballer and researcher[17] | |
| Wiesława Korzeń | 1976 | accountant, teacher |
| Adam Bahdaj | 1975 | Translator and writer[18] |
| Edward Lisiowski | 1974 | Mayor of Wojszyn. |
| Alojzy Walentego Zygmunt | 29 November 1972 | For fifteen years of uninterrupted and distinguished work in the mining industry |
| Krzysztof Kazimierz Miller | 1964 | architect, urbanist |
| Stanisław Horno-Popławski | 1952 | Polish painter, sculptor and pedagogue.[19] |
| Moses Schorr | Rabbi, Polish historian, politician, bible scholar, assyriologist and orientalist | |
| Stefania Skwarczyńska | Polish theorist and historian of literature, theatrologist, full professor, honorary doctor of the University of Łódź, World War II resistance fighter | |
| Afanasij Poliszczuk | 1946 | veterinary service chief in the First Polish Army |
| Edvard Kardelj | 1946 | [20] |
| Stanisław Sylwester Alfonzy Grodyński | 1939 | Polish Governor (Starost), military intelligence officer, lawyer.[21] |
| Bronisława Rychter-Janowska | 1939 | Cracovian artist.[22] |
| Józefa Bramowska | 1939 | Politician |
| Witold Bełza | 1938 | Polish librarian, writer, publicist and cultural activist.[23] |
| Stefan Kaczmarz | 1937 | Polish mathematician[24] |
| Józef Weyssenhoff | 1932 | Polish writer, novelist, poet, literary critic, publisher.[25] |
| Arthur Szyk | 1931 | Polish-Jewish fine artist, book illustrator, and political artist.[26] |
| Emil Rauer | 20 September 1925 | industrialist, creator and commander of a railway protection formation, social activist, and independence fighter |
Silver Cross of Merit
edit| Name | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stefan Bukowski | 1977 | Polish Colonel |
| Maria Boniecka | 1937 | work with illiterate adults |
| Francis K. Czyzewski | 4 July 1939 | writer, astronomer, meteorologist, photographer, playwright, WSBT Polish Hour radio program host, life member of the solar division of the American Variable Star Observers at Harvard College Observatory (1951); former president, Polish-American Central Civic Committee; staff writer, South Bend Tribune; South Bend, Indiana |
| Adela Dankowska | 1970 | Polish glider pilot |
| Grzegorz Fryc | September 2014 | New York[27] |
| Helena Gąsienica Daniel | Olympic cross-country skier[28] | |
| Marcin Pawel Grzadka | November 2013 | Harcmistrz, co-founder of YPCPA.[29] & chairman of Quo Vadis Leadership Conference.[30] – Canada |
| Rudolf Gundlach | Gundlach tank periscope inventor | |
| Robert Makłowicz | 2004 | journalist and historian, notable for promoting the Polish cuisine |
| Tomasz Moczerniuk | September 2014 | New York[27] |
| Emilia Napieralska | president of the Polish Women's Alliance of America[31] | |
| Witold Pilecki | 1938 | Soldier |
| Jan Sienkiewicz | October 1944 | Polish Army Officer |
| Filip Slipaczek | May 2014 | UK[32] |
| Adam Świerkocz | 2005 | Polish brigadier general |
| Jerzy Troszczynski | photographer[33] | |
| Krzysztof Wojciechowski | August 2013 | Poland[34] |
| Wlodzimierz Mieczyslaw Wojciechowski | 1973 | Polish soldier and resistance fighter, London |
| Czesław s. Ignacego Przybylak | 1956 | decorated Polish humanitarian activist, decorated worker of the state and Holocaust Survivor |
| Jacek Banasiak | 2014 | Professor and DST/NRF SARChI Chair in Mathematical Models and Methods in Biosciences and Bioengineering at the University of Pretoria[35] |
| Maciej Żółtowski | 2002 | Polish conductor and composer |
| Alex Dancyg | 2007 | Historian and advocate of Polish-Israeli relations[36] |
| Anna Styszyńska | 1997 | Climatologist[37] |
| Halina Zdebska-Biziewska | 19 September 2005 | exemplary and exceptionally conscientious fulfillment of professional duties[38] |
Bronze Cross of Merit
edit| Name | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stefan Ficner | 1945 | Great Grandfather, Patriot, Golina, Polska |
| Edward Lisiowski | 1974 | Mayor of Wojszyn |
| Stanisław Łukaszewicz | 1944 | Bronze Cross of Merit with Swords, Sargeant 10 Dragoons, 1 Polish Armoured Division, 1 Polish Corps for action at Falaise Gap, France 1944[39] |
| Piotr Paweł Morta | 1998 | Also Silver Cross of Merit – 2010 |
| Emil Jung | September 1996 | Stellenbosch, South Africa, Political activist and advocate of Polish-South African relations |
| Marguerite Ettienette Andrée Mouton – née Guillemin | 1950s | Educator; Soissons, France |
| Elżbieta Smereka | 3 May 1987 | For meritorious social services |
| Tomasz Trembowski | 2013 | Canada[40] |
| Dariusz Jemielniak | 2018 | [41] |
| Krzysztof Ligęza | 2006 | habilitated doctor specializing in security studies, reserve officer of the Polish Navy[42] |
| Stanisław Zarzecki | 1938 | A corporal pilot of the Polish Armed Forces, a participant in the Invasion of Poland. He perished during a combat mission piloting a PZL.23 Karaś aircraft.[43] |
| Karoline Podolak | 2024 | For contributions to the arts [44] |
See also
edit- Cross of Merit (Polish Scouting and Guiding Association)
- Cross of Merit (Austria-Hungary), the Austro-Hungarian Empire medal that it replaced
References
edit- ↑ "Dz.U. 1923 nr 62 poz. 458" (in Polish). Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ↑ "Krzyż Zasługi" (in Polish). 14 November 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ↑ "The Cross of Merit - Polish Military Medals & Orders - Poland". 29 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
- ↑ "Dziennik Urzędowy Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej" (PDF) (in Polish).
- ↑ "Dziennik Urzedowy RP" (PDF) (in Polish).
- ↑ "Dziennik Urzedowy RP" (PDF) (in Polish).
- ↑ "Jan-Krzysztof Duda odznaczony Złotym Krzyżem Zasługi. "Nikt nie osiąga sukcesu sam"" (in Polish). Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ↑ "News". Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- 1 2 "Government House (Award to Canadians)". Canada Gazette. Vol. 134, No. 43 — 21 October 2000. from: www.http://publications.gc.ca/gazette/archives/p1/2000/2000-10-21/pdf/g1-13443.pdf
- ↑ "Sukces w kraju bez trawy. Janowicz, Kubot i Radwańska z Krzyżami Zasługi". www.sport.pl. 8 July 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.
- ↑ "Government House (Award to Canadians)". Canada Gazette. Vol. 147, No. 8 — 23 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013 from: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2013/2013-02-23/html/gh-rg-eng.html
- ↑ Szabó, Máté (2013). "Beszámoló Az Alapvető Jogok Biztosának és helyetteseinek 2012. évi tevékenységéről". ajbh.hu. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ↑ "Nadanie orderów i odznaczeń. - M.P.2011.27.295".
- ↑ Andrzej Maciejewski (25 November 2005). "Ordery za IT" [Orders for IT] (in Polish). Computerworld.
- ↑ "Postanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 20 września 2002 r. o nadaniu orderów i odznaczeń". isap.sejm.gov.pl. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- ↑ Skoczylas, Andrzej (2012). "Prof. zw. dr Zbigniew Janowicz – wspomnienie o znakomitym znawcy prawa i procedury administracyjnej". Ruch Prawniczy, Ekonomiczny I Socjologiczny (in Polish). 74: 253–255. doi:10.14746/rpeis.2012.74.1.25.
- ↑ Filipiuk, Jerzy (5 January 2022). "Zmarł były świetny piłkarz Marian Machowski. Grał w Nadwiślanie Kraków i Wiśle Kraków, wystąpił w reprezentacji Polski" [Former great footballer Marian Machowski has died. He played in Nadwiślana Kraków and Wisła Kraków, he played for the Poland national team]. Gazeta Krakowska (in Polish). Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- ↑ "Bahdaj Adam – Słownik Pisarzy i Badaczy XX i XXI w." [Adam Bahdaj – Dictionary of Writers and Literary Scholars of the 20th and 21st Centuries]. pisarzeibadacze.ibl.edu.pl. Archived from the original on 22 January 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ↑ M.P. 1952 nr 70 poz. 1078. Zarządzenie o nadaniu Złotego Krzyża Zasługi (PDF). Warsaw: PREZYDENT RZECZYPOSPOLITEJ. 22 July 1952.
- ↑ "Предаја високих пољских одликовања потпредседнику владе ФНРЈ Едварду Кардељу и руководиоцима НАродне Републике Словеније". Borba (in Serbo-Croatian): 1. 24 October 1946.
- ↑ The Grodyński Brigade, Andrzej ST Grodyński 1977/2012
- ↑ iPSB (2014). "Bronisława Rychter-Janowska (1868–1953, malarka)". Internetowy Polski Słownik Biograficzny. Narodowy Instytut Audiowizualny. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
- ↑ "PATRON – WITOLD BEŁZA". biblioteka.bydgoszcz.pl. biblioteka.bydgoszcz. 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ↑ O'Connor, J.J. (January 2013). "Stefan Marian Kaczmarz". mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ↑ M.P. 1932 nr 123 poz. 155. Zarządzenie o nadaniu Złotego Krzyża Zasługi (PDF). Warsaw: PREZYDENT RZECZYPOSPOLITEJ. May 1932.
- ↑ Ungar, Irvin; Berenbaum, Michael; Freudenheim, Tom L.; Kettlewell, James (2017). Arthur Szyk: Soldier in Art. London: D Giles Limited. p. 224. ISBN 978-1-911282-09-9.
- 1 2 "Awards at the Consulate General of Poland in New York". Retrieved 24 September 2014 from: http://www.prezydent.pl/aktualnosci/ordery-i-odznaczenia/art,1369,odznaczenia-w-konsulacie-generalnym-rp-w-nowym-jorku.html Archived 15 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Nie żyje Helena Gąsienica Daniel-Lewandowska" [Helena Gąsienica Daniel-Lewandowska is dead]. onet.pl (in Polish). 25 November 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
- ↑ Grzadka, Marcin (12 November 2013). "Co-founder of, first President, and Chairman of the Young Polish Canadian Professionals Association". YPCPA. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
- ↑ Grzadka, Marcin (12 November 2013). "Chairman of Quo Vadis 3 – International leadership conference, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada – May 2011. Advisor to 2012 conference in Calgary, Canada & Chicago, USA". QVC. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
- ↑ "Napieralska, Emila". PolishMuseum.PastPerfectOnline.com. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ "Polish Embassy London (Awarded for Polish-Jewish dialogue)". Retrieved 15 July 2014 from: http://www.londyn.msz.gov.pl/en/c/MOBILE/news/silver_cross_of_merit__for_filip_slipaczek
- ↑ "Jerzy Troszczyński". fototeka.fn.org.pl. National Film Archive. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
- ↑ "Dr. Krzysztof Wojciechowski, Direktor des Collegium Polonicum Slubice, mit Verdienstkreuz der Republik Polen ausgezeichnet". OderPost. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
- ↑ "Banasiak". African Scientists Directory. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ↑ S, Marcin (1 November 2023). "President Duda meets son of kidnapped historian Alex Dancyg". PolandDaily24.com. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ↑ "LEX".
- ↑ Żmuda-Pałka, M. (2018). "Halina Zdebska-Biziewska (1960-2018), an invaluable professor and Olympic activist". Studies in Sport Humanities. 23: 7–10. doi:10.5604/01.3001.0013.2886.
- ↑ Letter from Ministry of Defence, 11 June 2003
- ↑ "Government House (Award to Canadians)". Canada Gazette. Vol. 147, No. 4 — 26 January 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013 from: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2013/2013-01-26/html/gh-rg-eng.html#c101
- ↑ "Odznaczenia dla zasłużonych w działalności na rzecz rozwoju nauki" (in Polish). 8 October 2018. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- ↑ "Notka biograficzna - Krzysztof Zbigniew LIGĘZA" [Biographical Note – Krzysztof Zbigniew Ligęza] (PDF). abk.amw.gdynia.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ↑ "Zarządzenie o nadaniu Brązowego Krzyża Zasługi" [Ordinance on the Awarding of the Bronze Cross of Merit]. Monitor Polski (in Polish) (154): 278. 1938.
- ↑ "Karoline Podolak Receives Bronze Cross of Merit", OperaWire, 20 December 2024